NHM employees in J&K express resentment over ‘persistent salary delays’, seek immediate release of wages

Srinagar, May 13: The Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association has expressed strong resentment allegedly over continued delay in the disbursement of salaries to NHM employees across Jammu and Kashmir, stating that workers have entered the third consecutive month without wages.

In a statement issued to Alfaaz – The Words, the association said the recurring delay in salaries has become a “painful routine” over the past two years, leaving thousands of employees and their families under severe mental, financial and social stress.

The association said NHM employees, who form a crucial part of the healthcare system in Jammu and Kashmir, continue to perform their duties in hospitals, health centres, emergency services and public health programmes despite uncertainty surrounding their own livelihoods.

Association representative Abdul Rauoof said the repeated delay in salary disbursement reflects the government’s “apathy” towards the struggles of healthcare workers.

“It is deeply unfortunate that those who dedicate their lives for the health and welfare of society are themselves being forced to suffer in silence. For the last two years, delayed salaries have become a routine for NHM employees in Jammu and Kashmir. How long will healthcare workers continue to survive without dignity and financial security?” he said.

He further said that while employees can compromise on comfort, they cannot continue indefinitely without salaries.

“Our families are suffering, children’s education is getting affected, loans remain unpaid, and daily household expenses have become unbearable. The government must realise that timely salary is not a favour — it is the fundamental right of every employee,” he added.

The association appealed to the government and concerned authorities to immediately release all pending salaries and put in place a permanent mechanism to ensure timely disbursement of wages in the future.

Warning of possible protests, the association said that if the issue continues to be ignored, NHM employees may be compelled to adopt “democratic and lawful measures” to press for their long-pending demands.

“A healthcare system cannot remain strong when its own frontline workers are left financially broken,” the association said.